SEXUAL ASSAULT
What is Sexual Violence?
- Sexual violence is any sexual activity when consent is not obtained or not freely and soberly given.
- Sexual violence causes serious health and psycho-emotional consequences.
- Advocates regards sexual violence as a public safety issue that impacts every community and affects people of all genders, sexual orientations, backgrounds, and ages.
- Sexual violence is entirely preventable when an informed community adopts a zero-tolerance attitude towards all problem behaviors (sexism, catcalling. harassment, stalking, bigotry, groping, assault, abuse, etc)
- Advocates reject all victim-blaming narratives:
(they were asking for it, what were they wearing? why were they walking alone? etc.)
To every survivor:
IT WASN’T YOUR FAULT. WE BELIEVE YOU. AND WE’RE HERE FOR YOU.
Sexual Assault Reporting Options
Law Enforcement Report:
A victim chooses to obtain a medical forensic exam and chooses to work with law enforcement.
Medical Report:
A victim chooses to obtain a medical forensic exam, but at that the time of the exam chooses to not participate with law enforcement. Any evidence collected is given to law enforcement with the individual’s contact information. Victims can also choose whether or not the evidence is tested. If they choose not to have the evidence tested, law enforcement must store the evidence for at least two years. Victims can call the law enforcement agency at a later date should they decide to pursue criminal justice options.
Anonymous Report:
A victim chooses to obtain a medical forensic exam, but at that time of the exam chooses to not participate with law enforcement. Any evidence collected is given to law enforcement without the victim’s contact information. With this option, victims cannot choose to have their evidence tested. Instead, law enforcement will store the evidence kit for at least two years. Victims can call the law enforcement agency at a later date should they decide to pursue criminal justice options.
What is Consent?
- Consent is a positive, unambiguous, voluntary agreement to engage in a specific sexual activity.
- The absence of “no” is not consent.
- A current or previous sexual relationship does not imply consent.
- Consent to some sexual acts does not imply consent to others.
- Consent given in the past to a sexual act does not imply or grant present or future consent.
- Consent must be ongoing throughout a sexual encounter and can be revoked at any time.
- Consent cannot be obtained by fear, threat, coercion or force.
